Bucharest, Bad Gastein day 2: One hit wonders

Bucharest schedule of play:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/3823/title/bucharest-open--bucharest-romania

Bad Gastein schedule of play:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/1340/title/nurnberger-gastein-ladies

Match focus:

Petra Cetkovska vs. Alexandra Cadantu

Surprisingly, Cadantu has only won a grand total of one match on clay this season. For someone who thrives on this surface, it's baffling to see that statistic. Her sole win was against a lowly ranked wildcard, which makes it even shocking. Looks like Petra can avenge her Czech Republic's (Koukalova) loss to Romania (Niculescu) here.

Pick: Cetkovska in 2 sets

Andrea Petkovic vs. Jana Cepelova

Talk about losing steam. Cepelova went into a downward spiral after Charleston, winning only 1 match since. Looks like the youngster couldn't handle the pressure of defeating the world number 1, and just lost her belief. She will face another uphill task as Petkovic is fresh of her semi-final appearance in Paris and won their last encounter right there in Charleston. The German was a former champion here, and I believe she will be the firm favourite while Cepelova continues to sink further.

Pick: Petkovic in 2 sets

Jovana Jaksic vs. Paula Ormaechea

Another one hit wonder, Jovana Jaksic found it hard to back up her run in Monterrey. Although she had a great eun, I thought that Jaksic was just lucky to reach the finals. Her game is just not good enough to be in the top 100. Paula is an experience dirt-baller, so she should capitalise on this kind draw easily. Unless Paula is bothered by Jovana's banshee shrieks.

Pick: Ormaechea in 2 sets



Sure win bets: Karin Knapp, Carla Suarez Navarro, Sara Errani
Upset alert: Katarzyna Piter, Chanelle Scheepers

Roland Garros day 1: Veterans still have the edge

Roland Garros schedule of play:

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/schedule/index.html

Match focus:

Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Zhang Shuai

Radwanska faces the highest ranked player who's not seeded, but she shouldn't worry. Zhang's game doesn't suit clay and Radwanska should be able to get the job done in second gear. The Chinese had a good run in Rome, but it was due to the incompetence of Kvitova that led her there. Looks like the Chinese's losing streak in Grand Slams is set to continue here.

Pick: Radwanska in 2 sets

Belinda Bencic vs. Venus Williams

Belinda Bencic sets up an intriguing match against Venus Williams, as she tries to prove to the world that she can beat quality players consistently. Venus didn't play much in preparation for Paris, and lost to Suarez Navarro in Rome. She will be eager to peak here against Bencic, who is still rather young to be winning these type of big matches. Venus just needs to keep herself healthy for the whole match. Bencic can claim a set, but Venus will emerge to winner (if she stays healthy).

Pick: Venus Williams in 2 sets

Ajla Tomljanovic vs. Francesca Schiavone

Former champion Schiavone is at risk of going out in her opening round against the upcoming Tomljanovic. The Croatian has been enjoying her best year on tour, and is playing with no points to defend. Francesca loves this event though, having won here in 2010 and reaching the finals in 2011, so she will fight to the bitter end. Ajla's game is not really clay court tennis, so the advantage goes to Schiavone. The deciding factor will be the Italian's stamina. Let's hope Francesca doesn't run out of gas.

Pick: Schiavone in 2 tight sets

Daniela Hantuchova vs. Jovana Jaksic

Daniela is not enjoying her best tennis, bounced out of warm up clay events by lesser known opponents. It remains to be seen if the younger Jaksic can defeat the experience Slovak, but I doubt so. Daniela is picking her tournaments wisely and looks to peak in the bigger events. Jovana's game is pretty raw, so Daniela is at an advantage here. She just needs to play aggressive and smart tennis and not go for the kill too early. Jovana still has a lot of maturing to do in my opinion.

Pick: Hantuchova in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Serena Williams, Yvonne Meusburger, Angelique Kerber, Carla Suarez Navarro, Garbine Muguruza
Upset alert: Varvara Lepchenko, Tsvetana Pironkova, Maria Kirilenko, Olga Govortsova, Kaia Kanepi

Charleston, Monterry F: No more upsets

Charleston F:

Andrea Petkovic def. Jana Cepelova 7-5 6-2

Andrea Petkovic claims her first title since her comeback by clinching her first Premier title in Charleston. This is especially sweet for the German who has struggled with injuries and poor form recently. Hard work has not gone to waste and you can tell that Andrea really wants this. Cepelova has nothing to be ashamed about as well, building on her huge upset over Serena Williams If she continues her pesky counterpunching ways, she can do some damage during the clay season.

Monterrey F:

Ana Ivanovic def. Jovana Jaksic 6-2 6-1

Ana wins her 2nd title of the year with a trouncing of her compatriot, Jovana Jaksic. It is understandable for the younger Serbian to be nervous in her first tour final, but Ana was too solid anyway. Despite playing substandard tennis for most of her early rounds, Ana turned it up at the appropriate time and managed to win this title. This will boost her confidence in the coming clay season, where she will now believe that she can win despite playing less than stellar tennis. For Jovana, she will need to tame her noise level as it is plain irritating.

Charleston, Monterrey F: I hope I get this right

Charleston final:

Jana Cepelova vs. Andrea Petkovic

When the draw was released, I am very sure nobody would have expected these two to emerge as the finalists. My predictions have been wrecked by these two, but can't say that I'm unhappy for them. Petkovic in particular deserves this for fighting poor form and having an inconsistent comeback. Jana barely got past Bencic, and will be nervous in her first big final. Andrea will be looking to add her first premier title to her resume, and now will be the time to do it. 

Pick: Petkovic in 2 sets

Jovana Jaksic vs. Ana Ivanovic

Ana's form came back at the right time against Wozniacki, toughing out two tight sets against the Dane. She will firmly be the favourite here against surprise finalist, Jovana Jaksic. Jovana's game is frankly unspectacular and it's a miracle that she's in the final. If Ana manages to lose this, I will be speechless. 

Pick: Ivanovic in 2 sets

Charleston, Monterrey SF: Flashes of brilliance vs. Consistency

Jana Cepelova vs. Belinda Bencic

Cepelova is proving to the world that she is no flash in the pan. While some players succumb the pressure after upsetting top players, Jana went from strength to strength, intent on showing that her win was no fluke. She will meet another youngster who has surprised the other seeds, Belinda Bencic. The Swiss was clinical in her dismissal of Errani, showing great calm even though she lost the first set. This meeting will be a nervy affair as both players will be playing for their first big final appearance. Too close to call but I think Cepelova will be the one who has more to lose. Belinda has a steadier game and a cooler head on her shoulders. 

Pick: Bencic in 3 sets

Andrea Petkovic vs. Eugenie Bouchard

Petkovic's form prior to this tournament was quite frankly pathetic this year. She somehow turned it around here for precious points, but will definitely be the underdog against Bouchard. The Canadian has already beaten two former number ones en route to the semi-finals, and is primed to win her first title here. The only thing that could affect Eugenie's chances is being the huge favorite now. The Canadian must not get ahead of herself as she still has two matches to win. If she plays to her normal standard, she can prove that she's the real deal. 

Pick: Bouchard in 2 sets

Kimiko Date-Krumm vs. Jovana Jaksic

Kimiko shows that she still has some wheels in her, playing steady tennis to ousted Monica Puig in her quarter-finals. Looks like Puig will be another wasted flash in the pan as she does not have the mental strength to be a top 50 player. Can't say I have seen much of Jaksic's game, but I have heard her play. She's annoying with her crazy banshee screams and I hope the Japanese shows her that tennis can be played with class and not bursting your opponent's ear drums. 

Pick: Date-Krumm in 2 sets

Caroline Wozniacki vs. Ana Ivanovic

It is quite clear that whoever wins this match will be the huge favorite in the final. Caroline's consistent game will be the antithesis of Ana's flashy game. Throughout the tournament, Ana's game has been up and down and she'll be penalized with Wozniacki's constant retrieving. Caroline looks good to gain valuable points here, and will be the favourite despite being ranked lower. Ana's just too volatile to put in a convincing performance for once. 

Pick: Wozniacki in 2 sets